BOSTON, MA, February 1, 2010 - Boston-based children’s educational media developer FableVision unveiled a deal with Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing’s Atheneum Books For Young Readers, to publish the visual novel series, Zebrafish. The first book in the Zebrafish series will be released May 2010. Originated and produced by FableVision and its co-founder Peter H. Reynolds, the Zebrafish books are an extension of Generation Cures, a bigger kid-centric transmedia initiative launched in partnership with Children’s Hospital Boston, which includes online animated webisodes, free online games, iPhone apps, original music and live events. The publishing deal, negotiated with Caitlyn Dlouhy, Atheneum Editorial Director, includes a second title to be published in May 2011.
“Zebrafish is an innovative story about a tween garage band that encourages kids everywhere to change the world, and Simon & Schuster is thrilled to partner with Children’s Hospital Boston, FableVision and Peter H. Reynolds on this book,” said Justin Chanda, VP Publisher, Atheneum. “The most exciting aspect of this collaboration is that kids who enjoy this book will have the opportunity to experience Zebrafish across multiple platforms, including webisodes, downloadable songs, games, and more.”
“FableVision is known around the world for its use of tranformational transmedia to move the world to a better place,” says Paul A. Reynolds, FableVision’s CEO. “Zebrafish is a prime example of leveraging traditional and emerging media platforms to go beyond delivering 'a book' – and instead to create a multi-pronged 'digital story experience' that invites an audience into the property.” Adds Peter H. Reynolds, a NY Times best-selling author/illustrator (Someday, SugarLoaf, The Dot, Ish, The North Star, Judy Moody), “Our mission is to empower every person with the belief that he or she can make a positive difference in the world. Zebrafish is an exciting addition to our collection of 'stories that matter.'”
With original character/concept design and creative direction by FableVision’s Peter H. Reynolds, Zebrafish was written by Sharon Emerson and illustrated by Renee Kurilla, key creatives at FableVision’s Boston location high atop the Boston Children’s Museum. The visual novel tells the story of Vita, a teenager who forms a dysfunctional rock band (only one person can actually play an instrument), which she names after the zebrafish she discovers in a local research lab. Her fellow band members Jay and Plinko wonder why their band mate, Tanya, keeps missing rehearsals. When they learn Tanya has leukemia, the kids realize that even though they can’t cure her illness or make her treatments any less painful, they can use their music to make a difference. Their first performance becomes a fundraiser to purchase research equipment for the hospital that treats Tanya.
A portion of the proceeds for Zebrafish will go to Children’s Hospital Boston to support pediatric care and research. “I believe that today’s tweens are looking for ways to give back,” says Janet Cady, Children’s Hospital’s Chief Philanthropy Officer. “Zebrafish shows them that they don’t have to be an adult to make a difference, and that their good work can mobilize family and friends to help sick children worldwide.”
Additionally, this spring, teens will bring the Zebrafish story to life. Boston-based teen band Yellowcake will host “Notes for the Cure,” their first annual Zebrafish Battle of the Bands to help fund research at Children’s Hospital Boston. Other Boston teen bands that participate will also raise money to support Children’s Hospital and have a crack at winning prizes and media attention. The competition will culminate with a Battle of the Bands concert on April 29th, 2010. Children’s Hospital Boston will also launch a national Battle of the Bands competition in the fall.
Visit www.zebrafish.com to learn more about the book, games, animation, and the Battle of the Bands competitions. Celebrities supporting the Generation Cures, initiative include Forest and Keisha Whitaker, Jennie Garth, JoJo Levesque, Mayim Bialik and Neal McDonough.
PRESS CONTACTS:
FableVision Contact: leigh@fablevision.com
S&S Children’s Publishing Contact: Nicole Russo 212.698.7087/nicole.russo@simonandschuster.com
Children’s Hospital Boston Contact: Amy Sweeney
617.355.4102/ amy.sweeney@chtrust.org About FableVision
FableVision is on a mission to bring the world to a better place through the creation and distribution of positive media, storytelling and technology. Located above the Boston Children’s Museum, the FableVision team enjoys an international reputation for its unique and innovitve products. FableVision creates websites, digital games, animations, and books with key players on the education landscape, including PBS, Maryland Public Television, MIT Education Arcade, Sesame Workshop, Scholastic, KCET, Carnegie Hall, National Academy of Sciences, WGBH, Random House, Simon & Schuster, Pearson, Girl Scouts of the USA, SARRC, the Research Institute for Learning and Development, Boston University and The Jim Henson Company. Among its K-12 software products are Animation-ish™, Stationery Studio® and Get A Clue®, designed to promote creativity, writing, reading, and essential 21st century skills. Developed for learners of all types, BrainCogs®, Essay Express™ and SmartMoves™, have been recognized as being particularly effective for students with learning differences. FableVision’s K-12 software product offerings are distributed worldwide.
About Peter H. Reynolds
Peter H. Reynolds is an educational reformer and children’s advocate who founded FableVision with his identical twin brother, Paul, in 1996 to create story-driven media and technology products that help ALL learners navigate their full potential. With countless awards to his name, Reynolds may be best-known as a globally acclaimed children’s book author/illustrator whose bestselling “stories for all ages” include The Dot, Ish, Judy Moody, So Few of Me, and Someday, which spent four months at number one on the New York Times Best-Seller Children’s List.
About Children's Hospital
Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School’s primary pediatric teaching hospital, is a leading source of life-saving treatments, groundbreaking research and compassionate care for children in New England and worldwide. In its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” issue, U.S. News and World Report has rated Children’s Hospital Boston one of the top two children’s hospitals for 19 consecutive years. Children’s Hospital Boston has the largest and most active research program at a children’s medical center. Become a fan of Children’s Hospital on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChildrensHospitalBoston or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/childrensboston.
About Generation Cures
Generation Cures is a philanthropic movement that teaches tweens to use their powers for good. The Generation Cures website offers free games, videos, music, webisodes and creativity challenges that inspire kids to care about others and want to make a difference in the world. Tweens can then turn their inspiration into action to help cure other kids through online and offline family fundraising initiatives that support Children’s Hospital Boston’s life-saving pediatric care and world-changing research. Since launching in late 2008, Generation Cures has won more than 20 national awards for creativity, education and family fun, and Seals of Approval from Good Housekeeping and Kidzui. Celebrities, including Forest and Keisha Whitaker, Jennie Garth, JoJo Levesque, Mayim Bialik and Neal McDonough, support the initiative. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/generationcures and www.facebook.com/generationcures.
About Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, one of the leading children’s book publishers in the world, comprises the following imprints: Aladdin, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Beach Lane Books, Libros para niños, Little Simon®, Little Simon Inspirations™, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Simon Pulse, Simon Scribbles, and Simon Spotlight®. While maintaining an extensive award-winning backlist, the division continues to publish acclaimed and bestselling books for children of all ages. In addition to numerous Caldecott, Newbery, and National Book Award winners, Simon & Schuster publishes such high-profile properties and series as Eloise, Olivia, Raggedy Ann & Andy™, Henry & Mudge®, The Hardy Boys®, Nancy Drew®, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Jon Scieszka’s Trucktown, Nickelodeon’s® Dora the Explorer®, Wonderpets® and SpongeBob SquarePants®, and coloring & activity books for Universal’s Curious George®. For more information about Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, visit our website at http://www.simonandschuster.com. |
